TV actors from S.A. embracing new roles

Updated 9:52 am, Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Nicholas Gonzalez stars on one of fall TV's early hits, “Sleepy Hollow.”

Nicholas Gonzalez stars on one of fall TV's early hits, “Sleepy Hollow.”

Photo: Courtesy Nicholas Gonzalez

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'Sleepy Hollow,' one of the immediate hits of the new season, stars Tom Mison as a resurrected Ichabod Crane, bent on battling evil, and Nicole Beharie as the police lieutenant who helps him.

'Sleepy Hollow,' one of the immediate hits of the new season, stars Tom Mison as a resurrected Ichabod Crane, bent on battling evil, and Nicole Beharie as the police lieutenant who helps him.

Photo: Michael Lavine

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S.A. native Henry Thomas finds his very different role on ABC drama 'Betrayal' very challenging.

S.A. native Henry Thomas finds his very different role on ABC drama 'Betrayal' very challenging.

Photo: Craig Sjodin, Courtesy Of ABC

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East Central grad Henry Thomas, second from left, is part of an all-star ensemble in new Sunday night drama 'Betrayal' on ABC.

East Central grad Henry Thomas, second from left, is part of an all-star ensemble in new Sunday night drama 'Betrayal' on ABC.

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South San High grad Selina Michelle Fonseca is auditioning for ABC. Courtesy Fonseca

South San High grad Selina Michelle Fonseca is auditioning for ABC. Courtesy Fonseca

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San Antonio's Selina Michelle Fonseca, 22, stands in front of the casting board at ABC studios, where headshots of actors in current projects are displayed.

San Antonio's Selina Michelle Fonseca, 22, stands in front of the casting board at ABC studios, where headshots of actors in current projects are displayed.

Photo: Courtesy Selina Fonseca

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Prior to auditioning for TV pilots, Selina Michelle Fonseca starred in a production of 'The Fantasticks' at the Josephine Theater. Courtesy Kristian Jaime

Prior to auditioning for TV pilots, Selina Michelle Fonseca starred in a production of 'The Fantasticks' at the Josephine Theater. Courtesy Kristian Jaime

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TV actors from S.A. embracing new roles

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Applause, as was characterized so memorably in the classic film “All About Eve,” is “like waves of love pouring over the footlights.”

It's a feeling some actors from San Antonio are happily experiencing as they embrace new TV opportunities.

One of the most buzzed-about new shows of the fall is the fantasy-chiller “Sleepy Hollow” (8 p.m. Mondays on Fox). Not only is its audience building nationally, but it seems to be on the upswing with S.A. viewers. In fact, the drama already has been renewed for a second season.

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Gonzalez, a veteran of many TV shows — from “The O.C.” to “Grimm” — described this experience as special, saying it “has brought the love back.”

He especially lauded British actor Tom Mison's deftly comedic performance as a resurrected Ichabod Crane, who jumps 250 years into the future to decipher murders and mysteries in the once-quiet town of Sleepy Hollow.

“Tom is one of the nicest actors I've worked with. Zero ego,” he said. “When you give him a compliment, you end up walking away with 20 of your own that he just gave you.”

In “Hollow,” Gonzalez plays Luke, a detective on the local police force and Abbie's ex; they broke up when she thought she was headed to a new job at Quantico. After seeing her boss slain by the legendary headless horseman, however, Abby decided to stay. Will her romance with Luke fire up again?

For now, he's trying to figure out what's going on with the odd new man who's suddenly partnering with Abby.

“He doesn't like being kept in the dark,” Gonzalez said of his character, particularly with so many strange killings hitting Sleepy Hollow.

Gonzalez was brought into the series late — in the third episode after the pilot. However, he must have made a strong impression because he was subsequently added to the prior two hours.

“They had to cut other things to put me in,” he said, “which was really flattering.”

He said his character will be fleshed out as the season progresses and may even continue into the second season.

Challenge on 'Betrayed'

Local viewers have been complimenting S.A. native Henry Thomas of “E.T.” fame on his sensitive performance as a mentally challenged character in ABC's new Sunday night drama “Betrayal.”

Though its premiere late last month drew anemic national ratings, the series got a healthy viewing here, according to numbers shared by KSAT.

Thomas plays T.J., the son of a wealthy entrepreneur. He struggles with speech and mental disabilities that resulted from an accident. At a recent ABC press session, the East Central High alumnus talked about the challenging role.

“When I read this character, I could see, you know, there was a richness on the page,” Thomas said.

He said two things helped him capture the frustration of dealing with such disabilities.

“I have a cousin who had an auto injury and severe head trauma, and he's actually the reverse of T.J. He's physically very incapacitated, but mentally he's very sharp,” he said. “And I spent a little time with elderly people with dementia, and I kind of fused those two worlds and created this sort of person who's betrayed by his own body and mind.”

Chasing her dream

Finally, a pretty and vivacious S.A. theater actress and singer, best known locally for her work with Magik Theatre, keeps pinching herself.

Selina Michelle Fonseca, 22, was one of 12 actors chosen from 7,000 candidates around the country to work closely with New York casting executives and to audition for current and future TV series for the ABC/Disney Entertainment group.

“I would die to be on 'Nashville,'” Fonseca, a graduate of South San Antonio High, said in a phone chat. “Really, any show on Disney or ABC would be my dream.”

She already landed her first pilot audition — for “a scripted drama on a major network,” she said.

It all started late last month when the gifted Fonseca was selected to perform before industry pros as part of the ABC group's annual Diversity Talent Showcase, an effort to discover and nurture racially and ethnically diverse talent.

A recent graduate of New York University, where she studied theater and on-camera acting, Fonseca feels fortunate “to now be part of the ABC family and knowing I have a group of people supporting me.” Her biggest support, however, has come from her parents, Irma and Thomas Fonseca, a longtime employee with the South San Antonio School District.

“Once I knew acting was what I wanted to do, my mom and dad were just so supportive and encouraged me to pursue it as my career,” she said.

Though in New York now, Fonseca said, “I'm 100 percent a Texas girl ... born and raised in San Antonio. I love the Spurs, the Cowboys and my horses.”

Jeanne Jakle's column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in mySA, and she blogs at Jakle's Jacuzzi on mySA.com. Email her at jjakle@express-news.net.